All Posts

PhD Students Advance to Doctoral Candidacy

In the journey toward earning a Ph.D., one of the most significant milestones is conquering the qualifying exams. This grueling test of knowledge, dedication, and perseverance serves as a rite of passage, marking the transition from graduate student to full-fledged doctoral candidate – a significant step forward in the doctoral…

Leighton E. Cluff Award Recipients

We are pleased to recognize Stephan Quintin (PhD Student), Sabrina Zequeira (PhD Student), and Joshua Juhasz (Neuron-Aging Student) as recipients of the Leighton E. Cluff Award for Aging Research. Established in 2002 through a collaborative effort between Leighton E. Cluff, the Geriatric Education Center in the College of Medicine, and…

Exemplary Teaching Award Recipients

Each academic year, the College of Medicine awards the Exemplary Teacher honor to selected faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching. This year’s honorees include a wonderful representation of exemplary teachers from the Department of Neuroscience: Educardo Candelario-Jalil, Ph.D. Paramita Chakrabarty, Ph.D. Jeremy Flint, Ph.D. Habibeh Khoshbouei, Ph.D., Pharm.D. Nick Musselwhite,…

Aging Research Recognized by McKnight Brain Research Foundation

Dr. Mohdeh Faraji (Neuroscience Postdoc) was honored with a second place award for her work on “Aging alters distinct components of nucleus accumbens dopamine signals during decision making under risk of punishment.” Dr. Faraji presented her work on the McKnight Brain Research Foundations poster reception in San Diego in November…

Barbara Balsamo wins first place at SEMRC

Barbara Balsamo, a second‑year GATORAADE post‑baccalaureate trainee in Dr. Mark Moehle’s laboratory, captured first place in the MRI category for her poster presentation. The poster session was held during the 53rd Southeast Magnetic Resonance Conference (SEMRC) on the University of Florida campus. Her achievement is a testament to dedication and curiosity. We look…

Dr. Nancy Padilla: Neuroscience Rising Star

Dr. Nancy Padilla is a standout scholar on the 2025 Rising Stars list from The Transmitter. Her work bridges cutting‑edge neuroscience research with a deep commitment to mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration. In her current lab, she delves into the neural circuitry underlying sensory integration and explores novel therapeutic avenues for neurodegenerative…

HR Announcements

Accelerated Payroll Please ensure all time is entered in advance for all upcoming payrolls. Due to the upcoming holidays, payroll will be accelerated through the end of the year. Health Insurance Benefits and Deductions Benefits changes made during open enrollment take effect January 1, 2026. Open enrollment ended October 31,…

Zachary Strickland Receives Professional Development Award

We are excited to share that Zachary Strickland has been awarded a $400 Graduate Student Council Professional Development Award to support his attendance at the 2025 Alzheimer’s Fast Track Workshop, hosted by the BrightFocus Foundation in San Diego, CA. This competitive workshop brings together emerging scholars and leading experts in…

First Co-Authored Publication for Rodrigo Tomas

Congratulations goes to Rodrigo Tomas for his first-time as co-author on a newly published article titled, “PolyGR-containing aggregates link with pathology and clinical features of Alzheimer’s disease.” The article is featured in the journal, Acta Neuropathologica, which publishes the best articles on pathology and pathogenesis of neurological disease. The journal…